Module 6: Alternate and Renewable Fuels

As our bodies inhale oxygen it gives us energy, the ability to do things such as play soccer, climb a mountain and even think. Energy causes movement. Every time you see something move, that’s energy being used — from a leaf being moved by wind’s energy to gasoline burning to propel a bus into motion. Regardless of the source, energy is an essential fuel for life. Some forms of fuel are in limited amounts.

Both are nonrenewable fuels made from petroleum. Petroleum is made from prehistoric plant matter that was buried millions of years ago and now is used in most U.S. passenger vehicles (about 385 million gallons every day). Because there is only a limited amount of this prehistoric material available, someday we will run out of petroleum and have no gasoline to burn. Not only are our gasoline and diesel fuels limited, but when these fuels are used, carbon dioxide and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons are put into the air, contributing to air pollution.

Two major challenges facing us in the future are:

1. The supply of our planet’s fossil fuel resources
2. The rise in pollutant emissions from automobiles